When Martin Johnson warned English players last season of the consequences for their international careers of moving to France, he did not have Ayoola Erinle in mind. The 29-year-old centre was loaned out to first division Nottingham last season after finding himself without a role at Leicester and joined Biarritz in a move that received little publicity despite the mass exodus across the Channel.

Erinle, who finished his career at Welford Road by playing in the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup finals after getting his chance through injuries, will on Saturday make his first start for England when New Zealand bring down the curtain on what has so far been an uninspiring international series at Twickenham, replacing the more mercurial Shane Geraghty at inside-centre.

It is hardly a like-for-like replacement with the 6ft 3in, 17st 4lb Erinle not known for his handling, passing or kicking skills. Even though Johnson and his fellow coaches admitted excessive caution against Argentina last week, the three changes made yesterday hardly suggested an uninhibited approach against the side ranked second in the world.

The indicator, perhaps, lies in the bench where England have in Geraghty, Mathew Tait, Danny Care, David Wilson and Tom Croft a range of attacking options they did not possess against Argentina or Australia. New Zealand have hardly been in free-scoring mode this year: their biggest victory is 33-6 over Australia and they have tended to struggle in the first half of matches, raising the tempo in the third quarter. England have given themselves a bench to keep up with any acceleration.

"I feel a huge sense of pride but I am also aware of my responsibility because as a side we have not played our best rugby in the last two weeks," said Erinle, who made his name at Wasps. "At the start of the season I did not expect to be involved in the autumn internationals and I went through some hard times last season always knowing that my religious faith would get me through."

Erinle will partner Dan Hipkiss in the midfield, two aggressive runners whose first instinct will not be to look up. The pair were Leicester's centres at the end of last season and, although Erinle will wear the No12 jersey on Saturday, he is unlikely to be used exclusively as an inside-centre, a position he has not filled for Biarritz this season. Johnson would not say what Erinle's remit was. "He knows what his job is" was all the team manager would say.

Erinle will be up against Ma'a Nonu, another centre who prefers to go through opponents rather than around them. "I am bitterly disappointed and, when I was told I was on the bench, it did knock my confidence," said Geraghty. "I had a word with the coaches and they want Ayoola to take the ball up and get over the gain line. I would like to think there is a role for me as a replacement and I know that there were aspects of my game against both Australia and Argentina that were not quite right. I just fancied starting against the All Blacks because I know what needs sorting out and because they like to play an expansive game."

Erinle came on as a replacement in the final 10 minutes against Australia this month to win his first cap. England were by then chasing the game having fallen nine points behind and he struggled to get into the game. "Saturday will be different because I am starting," he said. "It will be a baptism of fire because New Zealand are always right up there. I remember as a kid feeling the impact of the haka and I just want to get out there and enjoy the occasion."

There has been little in the way of enjoyment for England this month, more endurance. Pilloried after beating Argentina, they have made changes to their approach this week. They started with a kicking game against Argentina and failed to put the ball through hands more until they had received advice from the management team at half-time.

"We are going to play in quarters and review how the game is going at the end of each one," said Geraghty. "The players are the ones on the field and it is our responsibility to change tactics if we need to. We played as we did in the first half against Argentina because we had struggled to get out of our own half the previous week but we were playing into their hands.

"New Zealand are a different team to Argentina, the opposite end of the spectrum. They play with freedom and we have to mix things up." Erinle will be mixing it, with England opting for size in the midfield and the back three. "I don't have Shane's razzle-dazzle, throwing out miss passes," he said. "I have been picked for my size and strength but there is more than that to my game."